Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act
Hennepin Tech's Public Safety publishes an Annual Security Report, detailing three years of campus-specific crime statistics, reporting procedures and safety information. This report is made available to the College community as required by the Clery Act and can be found on the Hennepin Tech Public Safety webpage.
The Annual Security Report is available at each Public Safety office, and copies are available upon request by contacting the Director of Public Safety at 952-995-1525. Hennepin Tech maintains a Crime log at each Public Safety office, which is available for review on request.
Hennepin Tech encourages all students and College community members to be fully aware of safety and security issues on and around the campus and to report illegal and inappropriate activities. Personal awareness and applying personal safety practices are the foundation of a safe community.
Security and Safety
In an effort to ensure optimal student safety, all students are expected to comply with instructions from Hennepin Technical College faculty, staff, and emergency responders. Emergency Response Guides and posters are posted throughout the campus. These guides identify actions to take during a fire drill, severe weather, fire, medical emergencies, and lockout/lockdown events. Campus-specific guides can be found on the Public Safety webpage, or a copy can be obtained from the Director of Public Safety.
Abandoned Personal Property
Hennepin Tech is not responsible for loss of personal property left in classrooms, labs, or in any other area in or around the college. Lost and found is located in the Public Safety Office at each campus. For further details on Policy 6HTC.3 Abandoned Personal Property, visit Policies and Procedures.
Accident Reporting
If an injury should occur at the college, it must be reported to Public Safety personnel and an accident report form must be completed immediately. When emergency medical services are necessary, 911 is called and victims are transported to the nearest emergency treatment facility. Students electing to decline medical treatment must sign a waiver form provided by the emergency responders. Students are responsible for the cost of their medical insurance and treatment while enrolled at Hennepin Tech.
Alcoholic Beverages or Controlled Substances on Campus
Hennepin Tech adheres to the federal Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act (DFSCA) and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policy 5.18, which prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illicit drugs by students and employees on the college premises, or in conjunction with any college-sponsored activity or event, whether on- or off-campus. View Policy 5.18 Alcoholic Beverages or Controlled Substances on Campus at Policies and Procedures.
For a list of community area substance abuse treatment center referrals, visit Community Resources
Animals on Campus
Animals are not allowed on campus unless there is a valid educational purpose as determined by instructors or authorized college personnel. Service animals are an exception to this policy.
Background Study of Students in Health and Child Care Programs
Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with children, patients, and residents at a health or childcare facility licensed by the State of Minnesota have a background study conducted by the state. Individuals with specified felony convictions are prohibited from having direct contact with children, patients, and residents of licensed facilities. Any individual refusing to cooperate in the criminal background study cannot participate in coursework that requires direct contact with children, patients or residents of licensed facilities.
Students who are disqualified from having direct patient/resident/child contact will not be able to participate in coursework, which includes a practical experience. Therefore, completion of coursework for the program major will not be possible without documentation of a cleared background study.
Bloodborne Pathogens and Communicable Diseases
Hennepin Tech will eliminate or minimize student’s occupational exposure to blood or other body fluids and comply with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030.
Hennepin Tech respects the rights of individuals with a communicable disease to education, to privacy, and to be free from discrimination. Hennepin Tech also acknowledges the rights of others in the system to be educated in a safe environment and the need to educate administrators, faculty, and students about preventing and reducing the risk of transmission of communicable diseases.
Students with communicable diseases will be excluded from attending school in their regular classrooms if their attendance creates a substantial risk of the transmission of illness to other students or employees of the college. View Policy 5HTC.3 Communicable Diseases at Policies and Procedures.
Children on Campus
Due to disruption and possible risk of harm, children may not be left unsupervised on the college campus. This includes areas such as the cafeteria, student common areas, library, Veterans Resource Center, Student Computer Lab, Learning Resource Center, Writing/Math Centers, and hallways. Children are not allowed in classrooms or labs.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. There are three different types of Hepatitis, identified as A, B, and C, each one with different symptoms and different levels of seriousness.
Students should be aware of the dangers of this disease and are encouraged to visit the Hennepin Tech website and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about the disease and how to prevent it.
Immunizations
Minnesota Statute MS. 135A.14 requires all students born after 1956 be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, and rubella, allowing for certain specified exceptions. No proof of immunization is needed from students who are assumed to be up-to date with their immunizations due to requirements imposed by their previous school enrollment, such as students who graduated from a Minnesota high school in 1997 or later.
Insurance
All students are required by federal law to carry health insurance. Students enrolled in some courses will be required to carry liability insurance coverage.
Latex Free
Hennepin Tech promotes a latex free environment.
Parking
Student parking is available at each campus. Parking fees are included in tuition and fee costs. Parking permits are not issued for students. Each campus has spaces/lots reserved daily for the use of visitors, staff, and faculty. The staff, faculty, and visitor lots/spaces are reserved Monday to Friday between the hours of 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Public Safety actively enforces parking in the reserved spaces/lots, and will issue $25 citations for violations. Handicapped parking spaces are available at each campus. Public Safety provides escorts to all campus parking areas on request.
For more information, visit Public Safety for Parking Guidelines and maps.
Possession or Carry of Firearms and Other Weapons
No student is permitted to carry or possess a firearm on college property except as otherwise provided in the policy. View Policy 5.21 Possession or Carry of Firearms and Other Weapons at Policies and Procedures.
Safety
Safety is a high priority at Hennepin Tech. Every attempt is made to comply with safety standards. Safety instruction is included in the program curriculum. All students must know the hazards associated with the educational experience and be fully educated on the proper use and operation of any tool before beginning an assignment. Machine guards must be in place and adjusted to safeguard operators from injury. The proper tools must be used to complete a job safely and effectively.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn and used in designated on-campus and off-campus instructional areas. Protective eyewear must be worn in designated on-campus and off-campus instructional areas and any other locations where grinding, chipping, sandblasting, welding, and/or chemical hazards exist. If you have questions on proper PPE, please consult with your instructor.
Minnesota State Law provides that every person shall wear industrial quality eye protection in designated areas. Students must purchase their own protective eyewear, which is available at the campus bookstore. Contact lenses may not be worn in designated areas without the addition of safety glasses. Approved hard hats must be worn in designated on-campus and off-campus instructional areas and in any location where there is a chance of objects falling from above.
Students who do not comply with safety requirements are subject to disciplinary action.
Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is an intolerable intrusion into the most personal and private rights of an individual, and is prohibited at Hennepin Tech. Hennepin Tech is committed to eliminating sexual violence in all forms and will take appropriate remedial action against any individual found responsible for acts in violation of this policy. Acts of sexual violence may also constitute violations of criminal or civil law, or other Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policies that may require separate proceedings. To further its commitment against sexual violence, Hennepin Tech provides reporting options, an investigative and disciplinary process, and prevention training or other related services as appropriate. View Policy 1B.3 Sexual Violence at Policies and Procedures.
Sexual Violence
Sexual violence includes a continuum of conduct that includes sexual assault, non-forcible sex acts, dating and relationship violence, stalking, as well as aiding acts of sexual violence.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault means an actual, attempted, or threatened sexual act with another person without that person’s consent. Sexual assault is often a criminal act that can be prosecuted under Minnesota law, as well as form the basis for discipline under Minnesota State Colleges and Universities student conduct codes and employee disciplinary standards. Sexual assault includes but is not limited to:
- Involvement without consent in any sexual act in which there is force, expressed or implied, or use of duress or deception upon the victim. Forced sexual intercourse is included in this definition, as are the acts commonly referred to as “date rape” or “acquaintance rape.” This definition also includes the coercing, forcing, or attempting to coerce or force sexual intercourse or a sexual act on another.
- Involvement in any sexual act when the victim is unable to give consent.
- The intentional touching or coercing, forcing, or attempting to coerce or force another to touch an unwilling person’s intimate parts (defined as primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or breast).
- Offensive sexual behavior that is directed at another such as indecent exposure or voyeurism.
Dating and Relationship Violence
Dating and relationship violence includes physical harm or abuse, and threats of physical harm or abuse, arising out of a personal intimate relationship. This violence also may be called domestic abuse or spousal/partner abuse and may be subject to criminal prosecution under Minnesota state law.
Stalking
Stalking is conduct directed at a specific person that is unwanted, unwelcome, or unreciprocated and that would cause a reasonable person to fear for her or his safety or the safety of others or to suffer substantial emotional distress.
Affirmative Consent
Consent is informed, freely given, and mutually understood willingness to participate in sexual activity that is expressed by clear, unambiguous, and affirmative words or actions. It is the responsibility of the person who wants to engage in sexual activity to ensure that the other person has consented to engage in the sexual activity. Consent must be present throughout the entire sexual activity and can be revoked at any time. If coercion, intimidation, threats, and/or physical force are used, there is no consent. If the complainant is mentally or physically incapacitated or impaired so that the complainant cannot understand the fact, nature, or extent of the sexual situation, there is no consent; this includes conditions due to alcohol or drug consumption, or being asleep or unconscious. A lack of protest, absence of resistance, or silence alone does not constitute consent, and past consent of sexual activities does not imply ongoing future consent. The existence of a dating relationship between the people involved or the existence of a past sexual relationship does not prove the presence of, or otherwise provide the basis for, an assumption of consent. Whether the respondent has taken advantage of a position of influence over the complainant may be a factor in determining consent.
Reporting Procedure
Complainants of sexual violence may report incidents at any time, but are strongly encouraged to make reports promptly in order to best preserve evidence for a potential legal or disciplinary proceeding.
Complainants are strongly encouraged to report incidents of sexual violence to law enforcement for the location where the incident occurred. Complainants are also encouraged to contact the local victim/survivor services office, counseling and health care providers, campus Title IX coordinator, or Hennepin Tech Public Safety authorities for appropriate action.
Personal Empowerment
Below are some things to keep in mind to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
- No means no.
- Know that drinking and drug use can impair your judgment.
- If you drink, drink responsibly.
- Listen carefully. If you feel you are getting a mixed message, ask for clarification.
- Remember that sexual assault is a crime.
- Don’t assume that someone wants to have sex because of the way they are dressed, they drink (or drink too much), or agree to go to your room.
- Don’t assume that if someone has had sex with you before that they are willing to have sex with you again.
- Don’t assume that if your partner consents to kissing/other sexual activities, they are consenting to all sexual activities
- Be aware that having sex with someone who is mentally or physically incapable of giving consent is rape.
- If you have sex with someone who is drugged, intoxicated, passed out, or is otherwise incapable of saying no or knowing what is going on around them, you may be guilty of rape.
Don’t Be a Bystander
It is everyone’s responsibility to make Hennepin Tech a safe and respectful campus. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, don’t be a bystander, do something or get help to do something!
Additional resources can be found at Community Resources
Portions of this section are adapted from the Minnesota State Personal Empowerment through Self-Awareness Module.
Tobacco Free Campus
Hennepin Tech is tobacco free. View Policy 5HTC.6 Tobacco Free Policy at Policies and Procedures.